Inheriting Nations – Psalm 2:8

Messiah’s Destiny

For those who are running to their Bible to find out exactly what’s so interesting about Psalm 2:8 I’ll quote it here. “Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Thy possession.”

Who is the “Me” speaking in this passage? It is God himself. And who is he promising to give the nations as an inheritance? He is promising his Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. It is also a promise that Gentiles will be included as part of his inheritance – the very ends of the earth.

This is a short psalm, only twelve verses but it is entirely a prophetic declaration by Jehovah God. My New American Standard Bible gives it a subtitle: “The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.” It looks forward to the time of Messiah’s reign where God says: “I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” (Verse 6)

In this psalm God looks upon the rebellion of the kings and peoples of the earth (including the wicked forces in heavenly places) and laughs at them for their vain attempts to thwart his purposes. He promises they will fail miserably.

Remember that in the Old Testament the nation of Israel expected a Messiah but they had no idea it would be God’s Son – that Jesus would empty himself of his divine privilege and become man. Yet this psalm gives a clue in verse 7 for any with ears to understand: “He said to Me, ‘Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee.’”

Did Jesus Christ fulfill the prophecy in Psalm 2? Yes, but it is not yet fully visible. Listen to this from Hebrews 2:8, “’Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.’ For in subjecting all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.”

The ultimate fulfillment will be when Jesus returns again on a white horse to rule and judge the nations, “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’” (Revelation 19:16)